Microscale Plasma Devices (MPD) (Archived)

Many defense electronics are susceptible to radiation and high temperatures. Developing electronics that can withstand harsh conditions would expand the types of environments in which DoD electronics may be used.

The DARPA Microscale Plasma Devices (MPD) program seeks to enable a revolutionary new class of electronics and signal processing devices based on microscale plasma cavities capable of withstanding damaging electromagnetic pulses (EMP) and of operating in extreme temperature and radiation environments. MPD will work to develop small feature size (< 20 micrometer) devices for use in electronic protection systems for Defense applications. Plasma devices sought should be capable of switching high-carrier densities
(1018/cm³)
with speeds of 100ps or faster. MPD seeks to develop dual- and multi-terminal devices and demonstrate them in circuits, substrates and materials—highlighting the efficacy of the proposed approaches as well as the unique benefits of microplasma-based systems.

This program includes two research objectives:

To advance fundamental understanding of microscale plasma science and device operations for one or more key MPD design parameters, such as gas type or pressure.

Images

Selected DARPA Achievements

In the early days of DARPA’s work on stealth technology, Have Blue, a prototype of what would become the F-117A, first flew successfully in 1977. The success of the F-117A program marked the beginning of the stealth revolution, which has had enormous benefits for national security.

ARPA research played a central role in launching the Information Revolution. The agency developed and furthered much of the conceptual basis for the ARPANET—prototypical communications network launched nearly half a century ago—and invented the digital protocols that gave birth to the Internet.

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